A Carnoustie councillor has backed a call for the sale of Angus Council’s £5m fine art collection to be examined.
Brian Boyd has supported Monifieth and Sidlaw councillor Ben Lawrie’s suggestion that councillors debate whether the valuable collection is sold to protect vital services.
Angus Council owns two Pieter Brueghel the Younger paintings which are on display at Arbroath Library and worth in excess of £2m each.
The local authority also owns five other works, worth around £670,000, that are not on public display.
Mr Boyd said the levels of cuts required by the council in the future may mean facilities like libraries are closed.
He said: “Personally, I’m not precious about these paintings.
“I would rather have a library open than one closed with a painting on its wall that no one would then see anyway.
“With the severe cuts to be bestowed on the council this is certainly a possibility.”
Mr Boyd claimed that on several occasions, Carnoustie has sold town assets with the money then used to benefit the whole of Angus.
“Carnoustie had to sell its assets to build its Seafront play park for all of Angus to come and enjoy and selling these paintings is no different.
“Around 15 or so years ago, Angus Council purchased the old Dalhousie golf club building and its grounds, demolished it and then sold the land to a housing developer.
“The money from this Carnoustie asset was then used to pay for the playpark. Similarly it could be argued that the ground being sold for the proposed Sainsbury’s / Greggs development is Carnoustie ground, the proceeds of which will be going into the general fund.
“You only need to look at the number of new schools and council houses being built in Arbroath to see the town’s done very well from the council.
“It may be time that some of Arbroath’s town assets are sold for the benefit of everyone in Angus as well.”
The proposal has attracted criticism from Lucy Byatt, the director of the Hospitalfield arts centre in Arbroath, who said selling the Brueghel paintings would be “foolish”.
Arbroath councillor David Fairweather said he would “strangle” anyone who suggested they are sold.
Mr Boyd added: “The administration, that Councillor Fairweather was part of before his sudden resignation, is being informed daily that difficult decisions are to be made.
“I would imagine the remaining councillors would find this money very helpful to keep Monifieth recycling centre open and Carnoustie and Brechin kept on full time basis, thus making all burghs equal.”
An art professor at the University of Aberdeen criticises the proposal in The Courier letters page today.
Professor John Morrison said: “Your job, Mr Lawrie is not to cover over the failings of your budget by selling the art collection.”
